The Big Commune Family

The 1950’s were defined as the era of the nuclear family. Picturesque images of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” became engrained into the American psyche. But family is not just defined through blood ties, extended lineages, and marriage; our socially constructed families are also culturally significant.

We have our university family, our friends who are like family and other such groupings of family. The deadheads, loyal fans/followers to the band, the Grateful Dead would be an example of a family united by a deep love for a specific type of music.

Communes are also, more or less, socially constructed families. Communes, NOT to be confused with communism, are defined as ideologically similar groups of people who craft a community based on their communal beliefs, typically outside the confines of traditional society. Often times, the ideas of utopianism, and the creation of a perfect society, come into play.

Early 19th century America saw quite an upswing in the number of these communes, which grew to be utopian societies. The Shakers, a religious and spiritual commune, gained traction shortly after the Revolutionary War. Because the shakers did not practice procreation, their membership was solely reliant on adoption and conversion to the Shaker ideology.

In the 1840’s, an entirely different community, parallel in practice to the Shakers, formed in Oneida, New York. Founded by John Humphrey Noyes, this group practiced what was known as a “complex marriage” where group members were encouraged to have multiple partners; Noyes essentially wanted one big family where monogamous commitments are unnecessary. Although the society disintegrated, their source of income, which was the production of silverware, lived far longer than the original society. Today, Oneida is a reputable brand of silverware in the U.S.

It is fascinating to think that the same generation brought up with the mindset of the nuclear family and traditional values created such a contrasting counterculture, years later in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s.

One of the most fascinating communes/utopian societies is the Rajneeshees, who followed Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and established a society of over 2000 followers in Eastern Oregon. From habits of dress to the collective work ethic, and its eventual downfall due to corruption and feuds with locals, the society was and still is an enigma.

Communes haven’t died. Considering the current global economic climate, it is no wonder that the Fellowship for Intentional Community has an extensive list of communes currently forming. The website says that “these communal groups below range from small to large, urban to rural, and Christian monastery to secular anarchist collective.” The idea of living collectively with other individuals and forming a constructed family is part of the human need to belong. It is also a form of escape from the pressures of external society.